Amber Heard Explains Why She’s No Longer Allergic To Superhero Movies

June 22, 2018

Jon

Amber Heard was welcomed into the DC Universe last year as Mera in Justice League, but you can expect a more developed portrayal when she returns later this year in Aquaman. “Justice League highlighted her militaristic side,” she told Entertainment Weekly. “In Aquaman, we have a fuller picture, not just her as Mera of Atlantis, but also see her struggle in the surface world in civilian clothes. One of my favourite scenes is her first time on the surface world and she’s forced to dress as a normal human. We wanted to honour the comic books… I wanted to go full comic book as to how she looks, but it’s in the nuance of her personality where I wanted to push the boundaries.”

While Mera’s hydrokinetic powers may have been part of Heard’s attraction to the role, she was also drawn in by one of Mera’s more reality-based traits. “Before I decided to take on this role I read a couple of the comic books, and I was struck by how Mera was introduced,” Heard said. “She comes into this one scene in the first comic I read where Arthur (Jason Momoa) is attempting to save the town from a flood and she helps him.”

“She has an equal part in saving this village, and these civilians turn to each other and say, ‘Who is that? Is that Aquawoman?’ And she says something to the effect of, ‘No, I have my own name. My name is Mera.’ That resonated with me as somebody who’s always been allergic to being the damsel, the two-dimensional archetype of what women are often limited to in this industry, especially in the superhero world.”

As for working with Jason Momoa, Heard says there’s little difference between his screen persona and the real guy. “He’s exactly like you think Jason would be like, but even more so,” she explained. “His heart and his personality is as big as he is. He’s got this booming voice and his sense of humour isn’t satisfied unless he’s making people laugh. I was joking that you always know where Jason is—you hear loud rock and roll, booming voice, people laughing, and something breaking or falling. He’d make the worst ninja ever.”

Aquaman arrives in theatres December 21. Look out the first trailer next week.